Laundry press



L. M.. KAHN LAUNDRY PRESS Nov. 10, 1942.

Filed June 21, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 10, 1942. M. KAHN I I2,301,626

LAUNDRY PRESS Filed June 21, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. M. KAHN LAUNDRYPRESS Nov; 10, 1942.

Filed June 21, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 10, 1942 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE LAUNDRY PRESS Leo M. Km, New York, N. Y.

Application June 21, 1937, Serial No. 149,286

24 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pressing machines of the'typegenerally used in laundries and particularly to a pressing machinehaving superposed upper and lower ironing units which coact so as to besimultaneously utilized by one operator.

An object of this invention is to provide a pressing machine havingupper and lower ironing units, comprising a swingable upper ironingelement, a fixed intermediate element and a swingable lower ironingelement and automatic means for swinging the lower element forwardly andupwardly to a predetermined loading position when the upper ironingelement is swung down into ironing position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pressing machine havingupper and lower ironing units, comprising a movable upper ironingelement, a fixed intermediate element and a movable lower ironingelement and automatic means for moving the lower element forwardly to apredetermined loading position in timed relation with the upper ironingelement when said element is swung down into ironing position.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will behereinafter more particularly described, and the combination andarrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings andpointed outin the claims which form'part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pressing machine embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation with one of the side frames removed.

Figure 3 is an end vew of a modified pressing machine.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic end view of the pressing machine with theupper pressing unit in open position ready for loading.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic end view of the pressing machine'with theupper pressing unit in a closed position and the lower unit in an openposition ready for loading.

In the illustrated embodiment of the inve tion, Figures 1 and 2 show apressing machine of the type generally used in laundries, and comprisinga closed-side frame l having uprights H, H united rearwardly by across-head l2 which terminates in bearings l3, l3.

Levers M are fulcrumed on pins I in the bearings l3 and carry at one oftheir respective ends an ironing element 16 having a polished ironinghead l1. The opposite ends of the levers 14 have apertures l8 serving toreceive and connect two elongated coil springs IS with ears 20 extendingfrom the frame 10. The frame 10 supports an ironing member or buck 21having a work supporting upper padded surfaceor bed 22 which jointlywith the head l1 forms an upper ironing unit 23. The buck 2| is fixed tothe uprights l l of the frame ID in any suitable manner, such as bymeans of bolts 30. I

The means for swinging the head 11 into and out of pressing engagementwith the work supporting surface 22 consists of a cylinder and pistonmotor means 24, the piston rod 25 of which is connected to the lever Idat a point 26.

Outward movement of the piston in the cylinder of the motor means 24swings the head 11 downwardly about the pivot into pressure engagementwith the work supporting surface 22. This motion is accomplished byfluid pressure through a line 21, controlled by a hand operated controlvalve 28, shown in Figure 5, wherein the upper ironing unit 23 is shownin pressing position.

It is to be noted that the lower portion of the motor means 24 ispivotally secured at 16 to an angular lever 1| having a straight slot 12and which is pivoted in a frame 14 on a pin 13. The frame 14 has curvedslots 15 on opposite sides. The lower end of the arm 49 has a pivot 16in engagement with the slot 15.

' When the motor means 24 has motive fluid applied thereto the rod 25moves upwardly until the head 11 is in pressing engagement with the bed22. The cylinder 24 then moves downwardly with the angular lever 1| to aposition shown in dotted lines carrying pivot 16 and arm 49 into lowerposition as shownin 11 and causing an increase leverage pressure againstthe bed 22 for ironing.

Movement of the head 11 out of pressing engagement with the worksupporting surface 22 is accomplished when the fluid pressure is allowedto exhaust from the cylinder of the motor means 24 permitting the head11 to be'raised by the spring 1.9.

Fixed to the uprights ll of th frame 10 by bolts 31 is an ironingelement 32 having a polished ironing head 33. The head 33 may be invertical alinement with the buck 2|. An ironing element 35 having anupper pressing bed or work supporting padded surface 35 is slidablymounted in arcuate slots 31 in the frame uprights l I. The slots extendforwardly and upwardly to a position considerably in front of the normalpressing position of the ironing head (-33. The ironing element has alower plate 33 from both ends of which extend two circular projections39 which are slidable in the slots 37 and by means of which the ironingelement may be moved to a position in alinement with the head 33. Thepadded supporting surface 35 and the head 33 jointly form a lowerironing unit as.

Means for moving the ironing element 35 forwardly to a position well infront of the normal pressing position comprises levers it fulcrumed attheir lower ends on pivots in the uprights l l. The upper ends of thelevers it have apertures t6 adapted to receive circular projections d1extending from opposite end of the plate 38 of the ironing element 35.The aperture 46 has a triangular upper end which permits contactingrelation with the projecting member ll both when the bed 36 is inregistering relation with the head 33 or out of registering relationwith said head, as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 2.

Coil springs 48 mounted on the pivots 55 have their ends in engagementin any suitable manner (not shown) with the pivots 4 5 and the levers 54respectively and serve to force the levers forwardly.

In the position shown in Figur 2, the aperture 453 has a vertical wallwhich contacts the projection 4? and serves for moving the ironingmember 35 in the direction of its forward and upward position shown indot-and-dash lines.

Figures 2 and 4 show the upper pressing unit 23 in loading position andthe lower pressing unit 53 in pressing position. The operator places anarticle to be ironed on the Work supporting surface or bed 22 andactuates the valve 23 and admits motive fluid into th pipe 27 and themotor means 2 1. Actuation of the motor 2d causes the forward portion ofthe lever M to move down with the ironing head I? and causes a goosenecklever iil connectedto the ironing element l6 to swing forwardly at itslower end and to swing a pivotally connected lever 59 forwardly. Theforward movement of the lever 5d actuates valve arm 52!, link 52 andhandle El, which latter opens to exhaust, in valve mechanism 66, thefluid-pressure pipe from the motor means iidand 54. This causes theironing element 35 to drop due to its own weight to the bottom of theslot 31 and permits the springs 68, (it to swing the arms id and theironing element 35 forwardly and upwardly to the loading position shownin Figure 5.

Figure 5 shows the lower pressing unit in loading position and the upperpressing unit in pressing position. The operator places an article to beironed on the work supporting surface or bed at and actuates a lever 55on th control valve 28 and permits the motive fluid to exhaust from thepipe 27 and from the motor means 2 The springs it) now pull down one endof the rotatable lever is and thereby raise the head E; on the other endof said lever. The lever M is thereby moved rearwardly 'at its lowerend, which arm in turn swings the connected arm 56 rear The latter moveslink 52 to operat valve (it which admits wardly and actuates the arm 55.

motive fluid into the motor means 55, causing the arm as to be swungrearwardly to move the lower ironing element35 into alinement with thelower head draws link 52 backward, arm 5i closes a'valve mechanism' (notshown) in the separate fluid pressure line leading to motor means 53.The

At the same time that arm 52 arms 44 have pivotally mounted pins 56projecting outwardly therefrom and when the arms swing rearwardly, thepins strike the last men-- tioned mechanism to open the same therebycausing motive fluid to enter into the motor means 53. The latter fillswith said fiuid and then begins to raise the ironing element 35, whichhas gotten into alinement with head 33 into pressing engagementtherewith.

By disconnecting the arm 50 from the lever &9 it is possible to operatethe upper and lower ironing units 23 and 23 separately and independentlyof each other. The upper ironing unit is then operated solely by thupper valve 28 and the lower ironing unit is then operated solely by thelower valve 556. of the upper pressing unit 23 valves 89 and ill arerespectively operated. There is provided a hole in frame H matching asimilar hole in arm 44 to provide for inserting a pin as shown at 83 tobe inserted for locking the arms 46 against movement and holding the bed33 away from the operator when not in use.

Figure 3 shows a modified pressing machine having an upper ironing unit6!] and a lower ironing unit 33 in superposed relation in a frame 62positioned on the outside of the frame iii. The upper ironing unit 68comprises a fixed head 63 and a vertically movable bed fi l which isactuated up and down by a cylinder and piston motor means 65. The lowerironing unit 53 is identical with that shown in Figures 1 to 4inclusive.

Many other modifications may be made in the relative movements of theupper head and buck and as well as the lower buck, but the lower headremains substantially stationary to accomplish the utility and purposeof the invention.

I claim:

1. A press comprising, in combination, an upper pressing head, a lowerbuck, and intermediate means providing a fixedly positioned bucksuperimposed upon a fixedly positioned pressing head, frame means tocarry all of said bucks and heads,

means to move said lower buck between a position in pressing engagementwith said intermediate pressing head and a position laterally displacedfrom said pressing position and elevated with respect thereto for thereception of work to be pressed, means to move said first-mentionedpressing head between a position in pressing engagement with saidintermediate buck and a position sufficiently raised therefrom to clearsaid buck for the reception of work, and means to apply pressure betweeneach of said movable elements and the fixedly positioned element withwhich it comes in contact.

2. A press comprising, in combination, a movable head, a movable buck, afixedly positioned head, a fixedly positioned buck, frame means forsupporting said heads and bucks, means for simultaneously moving saidmovable buck into contact with said fixedly positioned'h'ead and formoving said movable head out of contact with said fixedly positionedbuck, and means for simultaneously moving said movable head into contactwith said fixedly positioned buck and for moving said movable buck outof contact with said fixedly positioned head, said last-mentioned meansbeing I adapted for moving said movable buck laterally and upwardly to awork-r'eceiving position elevated above the position of said buck whenin pressing contact with said fixedly positioned head.

3. A duplex press comprisin frame means, a

plurality of bucks and a plurality of pressing heads supported by saidframe means, on of said For individual operation bucks and one of saidheads being fixedly mounted on said frame, one of said bucks and one ofsaid heads being movably mounted on said frame, means for moving saidbucks and heads into substantially vertical alignment, means for movingsaid movable buck to a position laterally displaced from said alignedposition and elevated with respect to its position when in said alignedposition, means for moving said movable head from its aligned positionto a position laterally displaced and elevated therefrom, and means tocreate pressure between said movable buck and said fixed head andbetween said movable head and said fixed buck.

4. In a duplex press, in combination, frame means, a pressing headmounted on said frame rotatable about an axis all points of which are ata distance from the central longitudinal axis of said head, a buck belowsaid head and fixedly positioned on said frame, means to move said head5. In a duplex press, in combination, frame means, a pressing headpivotally mounted on said frame, means for moving said head in anarcuate path about an axis all points of which are at a distance fromthe central longitudinal axis of said head, a buck fixedly positioned onsaid frame,

means to move said head into and out of pressing engagement with saidbuck, means for holding said head in fixed position during its pressingoperation, a second pressing head fixedly positioned on said framebeneath said buck, a movable buck mounted on said frame, and means tomove said movable buck between a position in pressing engagement withsaid second head and a position laterally displaced therefrom andelevated with respect thereto.

6. In a duplex press, in combination, frame means, a pressing headpivotally mounted on said frame about an axis spaced from the center ofsaid head, a buck fixedly positioned on said frame,

means to move said head into and out of pressing engagement with saidbuck, said head being immovable while in said pressing engagement, asecond pressing head fixedly positioned on said frame beneath said buck,a movable buck mounted on said frame, and means to move said mov- I:

able buck between a position in pressing engagement with said secondhead and a position laterally displaced therefrom and elevated withrespect thereto, and means connecting the means for moving saidfirst-mentioned head and said means for moving said second-mentionedbuck and requiring said first-mentioned head to be in pressingengagement with the first-mentioned buck when the second-mentioned buckis in workreceiving position removed from engagement with saidsecond-mentioned head.

7. In a duplex press, in combination, frame means, a pressing headpivctally mounted on said frame about an axis spaced from the center ofsaid head, a buck fixedly positioned on said frame, means to move saidhead into and out of pressing engagement with said buck, said head beingimmovable while in said pressing engagement, a second pressing headfixedly positioned on said frame beneath said buck, a movable buckmounted on said frame, and means to move said movable buck between aposition in pressing engagement with said second head and a positionlaterally displaced therefrom and elevated with respect thereto, themeans for moving said secondmentioned buck comprising a pivotallymounted arm.

8. In a duplex press, in combination, frame means, a pressing headpivotally mounted on said frame, means for moving said head in anarcuate path about an axis which is spaced from the center of said head,a buck fixedly positioned on said frame, means to move said head intoand out of pressing engagement with said buck, means for holding saidhead in fixed position during its pressing operation, a second pressinghead fixedly positioned on said frame beneath said buck, a movable buckmounted on said frame, and means to move said movable buck between aposition in pressing engagement with said second head and a positionlaterally displaced therefrom and elevated with respect thereto, themeans for moving said second-mentioned buck comprising a pivotallymounted arm.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, a frame, amovable head, a fixed buck, a fixed head and a movable buck all carriedby said frame, means to move the movable head from an elevated positionclearing the fixed buck for the reception of work to a pressing positionin engagement with the fixed buck, said movable head being immovablewhile in said pressing position, means for moving the movable buck froma pressing position engaging the fixed head to a work-receiving positionlaterally displaced from the fixed head, and means for preventing boththe movable head and the movable buck from being in pressing position atany predetermined time.

10. In a device of the character described, in

combination, a frame, a movable head, a fixed buck, a fixed head and amovable buck all carried by said frame, means to move the movable headfrom an elevated position clearing the fixed buck for the reception ofwork to a pressing position in engagement with the fixed buck, means forholding said movable head in fixed position during its pressingoperation, means for moving the movable buck from a pressing positionengaging the fixed head to a work-receiving position laterally displacedfrom the fixed head, and means for preventing both the movable head andthe movable buck from being in pressing position at any predeterminedtime.

11. In a duplex press comprising a movable pressing head, afixed buck,afixed pressing head, and a movable buck, means to move said movablehead into and out of pressing engagement with said fixed buck, saidmovable head being immovable while in said pressing engagement, andmeans to move said movable buck from a position beneath said fixed headand in pressing engagement therewith to a position above the pressingsurface of said fixed head and laterally displaced therefrom.

12. In a duplex press comprising a movable pressing head, a fixed buckhaving a surface positioned to support unaidedly an article to bepressed and to permit such supported article and said movable head to bepressed together, a fixed pressing head, and a movable buck having asurface positioned to support unaidedly an article to be pressed and topermit such supported article and said fixed head to be pressedtogether, means to move said movable head into and out of pressingengagement with said fixed buck, means for holding said movable head infixed position during its pressing operation, and means to move saidmovable buck from a position beneath said fixed head and in pressingengagement therewith to a position above the pressing surface of saidfixed head and laterally displaced therefrom.

13. In a duplex press comprising a movable pressing head, afixed buck, afixed pressing head, and a movable buck having a surface positioned tosuppressing surface of said fixed head and laterally displacedtherefrom, and means for simultaneously 'moving said movable head intopressing engagement with said fixed buck and said movable buck intospaced position with respect to said fixed head.

14. In a duplex press, in combination, frame means, a pressing headmovably mounted on said frame, separate means providing a pressingsurface fixedly positioned beneath said pressing head, separate meansproviding a heated pressing surface fixedly positioned beneath saidfirst surface-providing means, both said surface-providing means beingcarried by said frame, a movable buck carried by said frame, means formoving said movable head into and out of engagement with saidfirst-mentioned surface-providing means, and means for moving saidmovable buck between a position in engagement with said secondsurface-providing means and a position laterally displaced from andelevated with respect 7 to the surface provided by said means.

15. In a device of the character described, in combination, a frame, amovable pressing head carried by said frame, a buck fixedly positionedon said frame, means to move said head out of pressing engagement withsaid buck, said head being immovable while in said pressing engagement,a second pressing head fixedly positioned on said frame beneath saidbuck, a second buck carried by said frame, means to move said second 7buck to a pressing position beneath said second head from awork-receiving position laterally displaced from said pressing positionand elevated with respect to said pressing position, and means tooperate the first and second-mentioned means simultaneously.

16. A press comprising, in combination, an upper pressing head, a lowerbuck, means intermediate between said upper head and said lower buck andproviding a buck permanently and vertically above a pressing head, framemeans to carry all said bucks and heads, means to move said lower buckbetween a position in pressing engagement with said intermediatepressing head and a position laterally displaced from said pressingposition and elevated with respect to said pressing position for thereception of work to be pressed, means to move into pressing engagementthe first-mentioned pressing head and the intermediate buck and toseparate the first-mentioned pressing head and the intermediate bucksufiiciently to permit the laying of work on the intermediate buck.

17. A press comprising, in combination, an upper pressing head, a lowerbuck, means intermediate between said upper head and said lower buck andproviding a buck permanently and vertically above a pressing head, framemeans to carry all said bucks and heads, means to move said lower buckbetween a position in pressing engagement with said intermediatepressing head and a position laterally displaced from said pressingposition and elevated with respect thereto for the reception'of work tobe pressed, means to move into pressing engagement the first-mentionedpressing head and the intermediate buck and to separate thefirst-mentioned pressing head and the intermediate buck sufficiently topermit the laying of work on the intermediate buck, and means forcausing either pair of said bucks and heads to be in work-receivingposition when the other buck and head are in pressing engagement.

13. A press comprising, in combination, an upper pressing head, a lowerbuck, means intermediate between said upper head and said lower buck andproviding a buck permanently and vertically above a pressing head, framemeans to carry all said bucks and heads, means to move said lower buckbetween a position in pressing engagement with said intermediatepressing head and a position laterally displaced from and with respectto the surface of saidpressing head of said intermediate means for thereception of work to be pressed, and means to move into pressingengagement the first-mentioned pressing head and the intermediate buckand to separate the first-mentioned pressing head and the intermediatebuck sufficiently to permit the laying of work on the intermediate buck.

19. A press comprising, in combination, an upper pressing head, a lowerbuck, means intermediate between said upper head and said lower buck andproviding a buck permanently and'vertically above a pressing head, framemeans to carry all said bucks and heads, means to move said lower buckbetween a position in pressing engagement with said intermediatepressing head and a position laterally displaced from'and with respectto the surface of said pressing head of said intermediate means for thereception of work to be pressed, said intermediate head beingsubstantially immovable, and means to move into pressing engagement thefirst-mentioned pressing head and the intermediate buck and to separatethe first-mentioned pressing head and the intermediate buck sumcientlyto permit the laying of work on the intermediate buck.

20. A press comprising, in combination, an

u per pressing head, a lower buck, means intermediate between said upperhead and said lower buck and providing a buck permanently and verticallyabove a pressing head, frame means tocarry all said bucks and heads,means to move said lower buck betweena position inpressing engagementwith said intermediate pressing head and a position laterally displacedfrom said pressing position and elevated with respect'thereto for thereception of work to be pressed, means to move said intermediate buckinto pressing engagement with said upper pressing head and to separatesaid intermediate buck and said upper pressing head sufficiently topermit the laying of work on said intermediate buck.

21. In combination, an uppermost pressing head element, a lowermost buckelement, means for swinging one of said elements in an arc in a verticalplane whereby a garment to be pressed by the cooperation of said oneelement is freely exposed at one position of said one element, a unitaryelement having an upper buck surface and a lower pressing head, meanspreventing said unitary element from being swung about any axis, meansretaining said unitary element in a predetermined vertical plane, andmeans for moving predetermined ones of said elements whereby pressingengagement exists and ceases to exist between said head element and saidbuck surface and said pressing head and said buck element.

22. In combination, an uppermost pressing head element having a metallicpressing surface, a lowermost buck element having a paddedarticlereceiving surface, means for swinging one of said elements in anarc in a vertical plane whereby a garment to be pressed by thecooperation of said one element is freely exposed at one position ofsaid one element, a unitary element having an upper buck surface and alower pressing head, means preventing said unitary element from beingswung about any axis, means retaining said unitary element in apredetermined vertical plane, and means for moving predetermined ones ofsaid elements until said head element and said buck surface are inengagement and said pressing head and said buck element are spaced fromeach other.

23. In combination, an uppermost pressing head element having a metallicpressing surface, a lowermost buck element having a paddedarticlereceiving surface, means for swinging one of said elements in anarc in a vertical plane whereby a garment to be pressed by thecooperation of said one element is freely exposed at one position ofsaid one element, a unitary element having an upper buck surface and alower pressing head,

means preventing said unitary element from being swung about any axis,means retaining said unitary element in a predetermined vertical plane,and means for moving predetermined ones of said elements until said headelement and said buck surface are spaced from each other and saidpressing head and said buck element are in pressing engagement.

24. In combination, an uppermost pressing head element, a lowermost buckelement having an article supporting surface, means for swinging one ofsaid elements in an arc in a vertical plane whereby a garment to bepressed by the cooperation of said one element is freely exposed at oneposition of said one element, a unitary element having an upper bucksurface and a lower pressing head, said supporting surface beingpositioned to support unaidedly an article to be pressed and to permitsuch supported article and said lower pressing head element to bepressed together, said buck surface being positioned to supportunaidedly an article to be pressed and to permit such supported articleand said uppermost pressing head element to be pressed together, meanspreventing said unitary element from being swung about any axis, meansretaining said unitary element in a predetermined vertical plane, andmeans for substantially simultaneously producing pressing engagementbetween said head element and said buck surface and spacing saidpressing head and said buck element, the means for moving said uppermostpressing head element being other than said lowermost buck element.

LEO M. KAHN.

